Job summary
- Main area
- Rheumatology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 409-7970445
- Employer
- Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Southport Hospital
- Town
- Southport
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 Per Annum, Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/07/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 13/08/2026
Employer heading
Rheumatology Specialist Nurse
NHS AfC: Band 7
After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred Third-party recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and furthermore, as an employer, we will not be able to respond to any e-mails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website. By applying for this post you are agreeing to "name of trust" transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 7 specialist Rheumatology nurse to join the team based at Southport DGH working across the MWL sites. You will require to have the non-medical prescribing course and have knowledge /experience of Rheumatology conditions/treatments.
To provide a high standard of care to rheumatology patients, by using the appropriate skills and knowledge in order to deliver the prescribed treatment and care for patients in an individual and sensitive manner. This will involve the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating nurse-led services for rheumatology patients and carers. This includes the nursing assessment and treatment of patients within the rheumatology speciality, who may have difficult acute and/or chronic presentations, to meet their physical, psychological and social needs throughout their illness within the hospital and community.
To participate in all aspects of the care of rheumatology patients requiring treatment with rheumatological therapies, including patient education, data collection and drug administration.
Main duties of the job
- To take responsibility for education of patients and carers with rheumatological conditions.
- To ensure safe prescribing and monitoring of Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).
- To work collaboratively with nurse specialists, other members of MDT team and consultant rheumatologists to optimise patient care.
- To work with the Day unit Team in providing holistic care for patients who attend the department to receive treatments.
- To assist with the education of these patients and carers, including the administration and monitoring of Rheumatological treatments.
- The post holder will be required to demonstrate good IT skills to input data and maintain the departmental databases.
- To be part of the training programme for Rheumatology nurses.
- The Rheumatology department is based at Southport DGH and offers outpatient services to patients who attend with rheumatological conditions.
- The nurses are based at Southport, working across MWL outpatient departments
Working for our organisation
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
- Develop and extend scope of professional practice to include venepuncture, cannulation and the administration of rheumatological therapies in line with NMC, National and Trust policies.
- To undertake the day to day running of the day unit clinics including logistics, admissions and discharge, arranging appointments for treatments, infusions or education.
- To collect data required for the British Society of Rheumatology Register for these therapies.
- To co-ordinate the prescribing of these therapies, including requests for repeat prescriptions.
EDUCATION OF PATIENTS AND CARERS
- To assist with the planning, implementation and evaluation of health education MDT programmes for patients and carers with rheumatological conditions.
- To empower patients with rheumatological conditions to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and wellbeing through one-to-one contacts and MDT education programmes by facilitating improved knowledge on disease management, medication and its effects on daily living
DMARD THERAPY
- To be a point of referral for patients commencing on disease modifying drug therapy, including education, consent, monitoring requirements.
- To prevent adverse effects on health and wellbeing through education and monitoring of patients on DMARD therapy.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Service Development & Delivery
- Administration of intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous treatments.
- To be involved in planning, development, implementation and evaluation of rheumatology service.
- To ensure all treatments are within national guidelines or evidence-based practice where available aiming to improve standards and minimise clinical risk.
- To participate in working parties developing policy change within department which impacts on all service users.
- Adhere to departmental policies in use of equipment including ensuring competence of others through training and supervision of practice.
- Assist in the development of policies and procedures within the rheumatology service.
- To act as a catalyst for change, reviewing service and clinical provision through audit/research, identifying areas for development, and implementing change.
Professional Development
- To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, incorporating them as necessary into service delivery.
- To support junior staff with their professional development.
- To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal development plan (PDP).
- To participate in the supervision scheme.
- To attend and contribute to local or national conferences in own field of expertise.
- To be an active participant in enabling the department to maintain Customer Service ‘Excellence’ status.
- To attend and take part in in-service training within the Rheumatology unit.
- To participate in the organisation and delivery of internal/external/national courses.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- To ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the Nurse in charge.
- To keep patient records up to date on a day-to-day basis following any interaction with patients or relatives.
- To ensure all unit documentation is completed.
- To assist with and carry out any input of data that is required for the departmental databases.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES
- To assist with induction programmes, preceptorship and mentorship of new staff as appropriate.
- Completion of the trust’s intravenous administration course.
- To appropriately assist in the promotion of the learning environment. Participating in the supervision and assessment of Health Care Assistants, Student nurses and Cadets as appropriate.
- To participate in the in-service training programme, delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in-house and externally, attending external courses and undertaking reflective practice.
- To be an active participant in enabling the department to maintain Customer Service Excellence status.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Participate in meetings pertinent to the unit.
- Establish and maintain good communication within the Unit, Division, Trust and agencies outside the Trust.
- To consistently use resources efficiently.
- To be actively involved in risk management and clinical audit programmes.
- To ensure safe custody of patient’s property.
- To report all accidents, hazards, incidents and complaints in accordance with Trust policies and assist in investigation of them as required.
- Comply with Health and Safety Policies.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain efficiency and minimise any waste.
RESEARCH & AUDIT
- To participate in local audit/research projects relating to the use of Rheumatological therapies.
- To collect data required for the British Society of Rheumatology Register for these therapies.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered nurse - General
- Evidence of high-level post-qualification training and appropriate implementation of new learning
- Willing to undertake internal and external training to develop the knowledge and skills required for further development of the role
- Non medical prescriber (or working towards)
Desirable criteria
- Clinical examination and diagnostics
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of Rheumatology Conditions
- Evidence of Teaching within clinical area
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Experience in Rheumatology
Skills
Essential criteria
- Able to apply high level of knowledge and skills in clinical settings
- Evidence of a high standard of performance in clinical area
- Excellent record of experience in training/teaching and supervising others (including therapy colleagues, medical/therapy/ nursing students, MDT members, patients/ carers)
- Evidence of self-initiated learning and its application within the workplace
- Evidence of continually updating knowledge through reflective practice and comprehensive CPD file
- Has grounded understanding of the psychological factors involved in illness
- Shows genuine empathy and understanding for patients, their families and carers (balanced with objectivity)
- Has a consistently high standard of written communication (treatment records, reports, letters etc)
- Has a high standard of electronic communication skills
- Able to negotiate using appropriate levels of assertiveness
Other
Essential criteria
- Has a mature professional manner at all times
- Has proven ability to act as a role model for other nurses and other professionals, with leadership experience
- Shows loyalty and commitment to Hospital Trust and speciality team
- Takes responsibility for own actions
- Seeks guidance when appropriate
- Is self-aware, able to initiate and manage self-change when necessary
- Has proven stability, remains calm under pressure. Able to cope in an emergency
- Able to prioritise and facilitate this in others. Has evidence of an ability to maintain a positive outlook and encourage this in others
- Able to delegate appropriately and monitor progress
- Able to use initiative balanced with consultative approach
- Able to co-ordinate using a rational, logical approach
- Flexible and adaptable
- Excellent time management skills
- Willing to work flexible hours
- Awareness of general professional issues
- Awareness of current NHS and Trust issues
Desirable criteria
- Creative, using lateral thinking and initiative
- Experience of project work
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sheena Walker
- Job title
- Matron
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01704704630
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